Military Service: Norman volunteered as a Reserve in the RAF on 26 March 1941 in Oxford, England. It wasn't until 6 Jun 1941 that he was dispatched to No 2RC (No2 Recruitment Centre, Cardington, Bedfordshire) and immediately on to No 4 Wing, 16RC (Great Yarmouth) for his basic training. Norman completed his training by spending 6 weeks at Portreath from 18 July 1941.

On the 29 Aug 1941 Norman was posted to the Middle East at the rank of AC2 (Aircraftman, 2nd Class). 2 months later on 24 Oct 1941 he was attached to 202 Group and then on 1 Dec 1941 to AHQ Egypt based at Cairo. He clearly had a knack for the job because he recieved his first trade promotion, to AC1 (Aircraftman, 1st Class), on 6 Dec 1941. It should be noted that advancement to AC1 was normal following satisfactory initial training.

Norman was admitted to the RAF Hospital, Egypt on 28 April 1942 and remained there until 6 May 1942 before returning to AHQ Egypt. Family rumour suggests that this may have been as a result of appendicitus!

On 16 March 1943, Norman was posted to AHQ A.D. East Med. where he continued to serve until he was hospitalised again on 29 Sept 1943, this time for only 4 days. He was discharged from hospital on 3 Oct 1943 and returned to his unit.

Promoted to LAC (Leading Aircraftman) on 1 March 1944, Norman continued to serve with AHQ A.D. East Med., until 9 Aug 1945 when he was sent to 21 PTC (Personnel Transit Centre) at Kasfareet, Egypt. From here, on 1 Sept 1945 he was posted to No 67 Maintenance Unit where he spent 4 months before a final posting to 100 PDC (Personnel Dispatch Centre) on 30 Jan 1946. It was from here that he was formally demobbed on 21 Feb 1946. Norman was a "Class B" release. This meant that he was allowed to leave the RAF before completion of his Military Service, probably because he was a tradesman (Painter and Decorator). Tradesmen were needed urgently to help undertake re-construction following the end of the war.

At his revue on 31 Dec 1945, Norman's character was described as "Very Good" and his Proficiency as "Superior". On the 12 Jan 1944 he was awarded the "Africa Star" medal and on the 4 June 1944, he was awarded a 1st Class Conduct Badge.

The Africa StarA campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in WW2. It was awarded for a minimum of one day service in an operational area of North Africa between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943. The whole of the area between the Suez Canal and the Strait of Gibraltar is included, together with Malta, Abyssinia, Kenya, the Sudan, both Somalilands and Eritrea. The areas not bordering the Mediterranean only qualified for the Africa Star from 10 June 1940 to 27 November 1941.

The Atlantic Star 1939-45A campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in WW2. The star was awarded for six months service afloat, in the Atlantic or in Home Waters, within the period 3 September 1939 to 8 May 1945. Also awarded to aircrew who have taken part in operations against the enemy at sea within the qualifying areas for Naval personnel, subject to two months service in an operational unit. The 1939-1945 Star must have been earned before commencing qualifying service for the Atlantic Star. Merchant seaman also qualified for the medal. They were required to have served in the Atlantic home waters, North Russia Convoys or South Atlantic waters.

The Defence Medal (WW2)The Defence Medal was awarded for service in the forces in non-operational areas subjected to air attack or closey threatened for at least three years service in Great Britain until 8th May 1945 or one year in territories overseas until 2 September 1945. In the case of mine and bomb disposal units the time qualification was three months and Canadians serving for one year in Newfoundland were eligible and persons serving for six months in Hong Kong were also eligible. Service in West Africa, Palestine and India, other than operational air crew, qualified also for this award. Those awarded the George Cross or the George Medal for civil defence received this award and the Home Guard also qualified for this award.

Owing to the terms of reference, it was not unusual to find a person with this award who had never heard a shot fired, but a person with only the Defence Medal, for example, whilst serving in the rescue services in London, also earned this award. Only the man who wears this award knows why it was earned.

The award has the coinage head of King George VI on the obverse. The reverse shows the Royal Crown resting above a small oak tree and flanked by two heraldic lions. The dates 1939 and 1945 appear in the top left and right respectively on the reverse, whilst beneath are the words THE DEFENCE MEDAL. The Medal is made of a Cupro-Nickel combination. The Canadian versions however, were made of ".800 fine" silver.

The War Medal 1939-45The War Medal 1939–1945 was a British decoration awarded to those who had served in the Armed Forces or Merchant Navy full-time for at least 28 days between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. In the Merchant Navy, the 28 days must have been served at sea. It is sometimes described as the "Victory Medal" for WW2, although that is not its correct name